Generative AI refers to technology that is capable of creating content like text, images, audio, etc. These generative works are tricky to cite because they cannot always be directly reproduced by another person using the same tool.
As a best practice, you should acknowledge your use of the generative AI tool in the methods section of your paper (or other relevant section if needed).
Many citation styles do not account for AI created content in their existing guidelines. The following page has documented the most recent citation methods from the most popular citation styles.
Publisher. (Year). Name of tool (Version name) [Additional description]. URL
OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
(Publisher, Year)
(OpenAI, 2023)
For more information visit the APA Style Blog "How to cite ChatGPT".
Generated content by Name of tool, Publisher, Date content was generated, URL
1. Text generated by ChatGPT, OpenAI, Mar 20, 2023, https://chat.openai.com/chat
OR
Name of tool, prompt response, OpenAI, Date content was generated.
1. ChatGPT, response to "Create a list of scholarly databases used to find articles in the field of political science," OpenAI, March 20, 2023.
(Name of Tool, Date)
(ChatGPT, March 20, 2023)
When using author-date do not cite ChatGPT in the reference list unless a publicly available link is created.
For more information visit the Chicago Manual of Style Online "Citation, Documentation of Sources."
MLA does not recommend treating a generative AI tool as an author. Reference lists begin with the title or description of the source.
"Description of generated work" prompt. Name of tool, version name, Publisher, Date content was generated, URL.
"Create a list of scholarly databases used to find articles in the field of political science" prompt. ChatGPT, 14 Mar version, OpenAI, 20 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
("Shortened description")
("Create a list of scholarly databases")
For more information visit the MLA Style article "How do I cite generative AI in MLA style?"
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